Compensation for dead fishermen’s families

Ridma Dissanayake

The families of fishermen who died in the recent storm will receive relief within the next two weeks, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

Arrangements are in place to pay Rs. 100,000 to the nearest relative of each dead or missing fishermen.

The Fisheries Ministry allocated funds to pay the compensation with Cabinet approval.

The government allocated around Rs. 75 million to grant compensation and provide fishing trawlers and equipment in lieu of those fully damaged and not having the insurance cover launched by the ministry, the minister said.

Minister Senaratne said 51 fishermen died at sea in the storm while another eight fishermen are missing.

“ The main reason for this was the fishermen not using life jackets and tubes. Only the families of four fishermen who perished have received the insurance cover introduced by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry,” he said.

The Fisheries Ministry has decided to make life insurance for fishermen mandatory from 2014. Fishing trawlers with fishermen without life insurance will not be issued licences for fishing from next year, ministry sources said.